By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has inaugurated a Sensitization Committee for Peace and Coexistence in Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas, which have in the past witnessed incidents of communal conflicts.
Daily Independent reports that the Committee is co-chaired by Imam Alaramma Mallam Fa’izu Ado Musa and Rev. Father Benson Bature, including 30 religious leaders from both LGAs, representatives of security agencies, and officials from the respective local governments.
The mandate of the committee include conduct sustained sensitization campaigns on peaceful coexistence, mediate disputes and foster intergroup dialogue, promote interfaith understanding and religious values of love and forgiveness, mobilize communities through religious platforms for peacebuilding and report critical incidents beyond their scope to relevant authorities.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at the government house Bauchi, Governor Mohammed reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining peace and unity across the state, saying that no individual or group would be allowed to truncate the relative harmony enjoyed by the people.
Governor Mohammed expressed concern over conflicts recurring during certain seasons which he noted tends to portray Bauchi in a negative light despite the prevailing stability in most parts of the state, assuring that Bauchi remains one of the most peaceful states in the federation and attributed the feat to deliberate government investments in security and peace-building initiatives over the last six years.
“We will not allow anyone, no matter how highly placed, to scuttle the serenity and harmony we have attained.This Committee will serve as a moral compass and a bridge for dialogue, understanding and unity.By the grace of God, our progress and development will not be truncated” he said
The governor underscored the strategic role of religious leaders in strengthening peace, pointing out that Imams, pastors, and other clerics command immense respect among their followers and can influence attitudes, mediate disputes, and de-escalate tensions within communities.
According to him, the newly inaugurated committee will serve as a bridge between the government, security agencies, and religious leaders, with a mandate to promote dialogue, understanding, and communal harmony in Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa.
He commended the Council of Imams and Pastors in Bauchi State for their long-standing contribution to peace and coexistence, describing them as critical partners in the quest for stability and development.
Governor Mohammed called on citizens to support the initiative, which he described as a pathway to sustainable growth, adding that “It is my prayer that this effort will set us on the course of lasting peace and prosperity”